- Aug 4, 2013
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I absolutely agree that fear of judgement is the "lowest kind of motivator" because, thank God, "perfect love casts out all fear." Do you feel like western Christianity has emphasized that motivation too much? If so why do you feel like we have done this? Feel free to answer with as much vehemence as you think is appropriate
While I am not quite yet Orthodox, I come from a PCA Calvinist background, so I feel I might have a fair understanding of where you are coming from.
If you do a study of the development of the Christian faith, Western Christianity, although they will probably deny it, was shaped and influenced by the culture of the Roman Empire. That culture was a culture which was obsessed with THE LAW. Jurisprudence meant everything to the Roman citizen. It was the means by which the empire ran smoothly, and the Roman citizen was better than the barbarous pagan tribes that surrounded them. This is why the West has done this - the intrusion of culture into the Western Church, along with politics which melded the Church and the empire together, much to the detriment of the Church.
As you come to understand Orthodoxy better, you will see the difference in how we approach God, how we understand mankind, and especially how we view soteriology and eschatology. These things are as different between East and West as day is from night, and these differences are the reason I am leaving my association with the Roman West through the BCC and converting to Orthodoxy.
In the West (Catholic and Protestant) God is the ever-offended Judge, the "Mighty Smiter" (as Brad Jersek puts it) who is ever in need of having His anger assuaged and the offenses against Him paid for. The approach of the West is that of the law - broken law deserves punishment. This is not the view of the East, which is medicinal in nature. God is loving Father who as the Great Physician, heals His sick children. He is love, not anger. There is no such thing as Dant'es sordid description of hell where God "pours out the fury of His wrath" in horrendous torments upon those who love sin more than Him. The torments of the next life are self-induced. As Father Matt has said, salvation is given TO ALL (Romans 5:12-19). Death and the devil are defeated. All go to be with Christ/God, but those who have not repented in this life and who love wickedness will find His presence torment, while those who have pursued Him in this life will find Him delight.
"Christ, the lover of mankind." When I first heard that phrase in an Orthodox Church, my heart just melted. Fear of being smacked around by God is a demeaning reason for eschewing sin. I want to love Him with all my heart, not be afraid He is gonna wallop me one! For years I sat under a parade of preachers, first in Bob Jones Fundamentalism, then in PCA Calvinism, who threatened me with God. Now I am learning the truth of what John said - "God is love."
Orthodoxy gives that love to me. I wish you well on your investigation and hope I may be of some help to you as you seek!
God bless!
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